Date: 1st - 2nd century AD
32 x 20 x 12.4 cm, limestone
Department of Antiquities, Amman, JP 13483

Uncovered during excavations at the Temple of the Winged Lions in 1975, it is the most human-like example of an eye betyl discovered in Petra so far. It was incorporated into the north wall or to a niche of the temple.

The eyes are almond-shaped, rather than the more common rectangular form. Thick eyebrows, long nose, and mouth lips are all clearly outlined. The head is crowned by a wreath with a round recess in the centre, perhaps for a precious stone. Some scholars, following the assumption of Fawzi Zayadine (1991,) believe that the crescent shapes around it indicate that it is a stylised version of the Isis basileion (horn crown), and therefore in connection with the Isis cult. But others, such as Veit Vaelske, call this into question.

The face is framed by decorated columns and a frieze with dentils. Below the frame there is the Nabataean inscription "Goddess of Hayyan, Son of Nayibat," with palms or feathers on either side. According to this, it is a votive stele that was probably donated by a private person named Hayyan. The finding of this stele supports Philip C. Hammond's assumption, that the Temple of the Winged Lions was dedicated to one of the main Nabataean female deities, known throughout the region as 'Allat (the goddess), and also referred to in Petra as al-'Uzza (the most powerful.) This native goddess was obviously equated with other cosmopolitan deities from the Hellenistic and Roman worlds, such as Isis and Aphrodite.

© Text, translations: Haupt & Binder. Sources include: Christopher A. Tuttle & Tali Erickson-Gini, Veit Vaelske